Bethel burton



B. BURTON.

Priming Metallic Cartridges.

Patented Aug.

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Letters Patent No. 81,058, dated August 11, 1868.

IMPROVEMENT m PRIMING nErALuc cnnrninen's.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY concerns;

Be it known that I, Bn'rHEL BURTON, of the city of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented a new anduseful Improvement in Metallic Cartridges .and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the constructionand operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making part of this specification, in-'whic h- Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views of the cartridge and b ullet witlrmy improvement attached.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the cup, through-which the firing-pin passes, as prepared to enter the cartridge. 1 y

Figure 3" is a top view of the same.

Figures 4, 5, and 6 are paper, cloth, or other suitable materials.-

Figure 4 represents the paper disk, coated on one side with amorphous phosphorus.

Figure 5, a similar. disk, coated with chloride of potash.

Figure 6 represents an annular washer or disk, having a'circular hole in the centre. I

In making cartridges on my plan, I take paper, cloth, or other suitable materals, and coat them with gum or glue. While wet, I sprinkle one with amorphous phosphorus, and the other with chloride of potash, which may be mixed or not with other materials, if desired. When dry, they are cut to the required size. The cartridgeshell is first made, in the usual way. I A hole is made in the head, corresponding in size. to the cup, (fig. 3,) the 1 base of which is made in the form of a disk; it is dropped down into the cartridge; when pressed down, it flattens out the disk, which enters the rim of the cartridge, The firing-pin is then introduced through the base of the cartridge, passing through the hole in the cup, (fig. 3,) ate. The cap f," made of brass or other metal, is then placed in thecup, which prevents any gas escaping that may pass through the hole e, in which the'firingpin it enters. The head of thefiring-pin h is made to fit closely in the cap f, so that any gas escaping serves to drive'back the pin, leaving the cartridge ready for reloading. When the pin and cap are in place, the cartridge is ready to receive the powder, which is pressed tightly in the cartridge. The disks or wafers, (figs. 4 and 5,]

with the prepared surfaces facing'each other, separated by theannular washer, (fig. 6,) are then placed on the powder, a greased wad may then be placed thereon, for lubrication, and the bullet inserted, when the cartridge is ready for firing. 7

Another mode'of priming may be used, as shown at k, fig. 1--a cap primed with the before-mentioned materials, figs. 4 and 5, or other fulminate, the cap being longer than common, for the purpose of conveying the fire through the lubricating-material to the powder, when ignited by the firing-pin. The lubrication may be grease, or, if a wad, as before, a hole must be made, to allow the cap to pass through. The use of heavy charges of powder inc eases the length of the cartridge, which makes it impossible for some guns to eject the shell from the chamber of the barrel, and to overcomev this difficnlty, the cartridge is shortened, and enlarged, as shown at m, figs. 1 and 2 The shoulder thus formed creates resistance to the freepassage of the unburned powder passing out ed the cartridge, and hence, increased recoil. I

Several ineii'ectual attempts have been made to fire the powder in front, instead of at the base, but failed, in consequence of the liability to premature discharge, by the cartridge being struck a blow, or falling on the ground. To overcome this d'rfiicnlty, the-cup, (fig. 3,) is elongated. The point of the firing-pin is kept at a safe distance from the explosive matter. The length of the cup gives space for the pin being driven forward into the fulminate. I

The amorphous phosphorus and chloride of potash being separated, cannot ignite'by the bullet being pressed against them.

The desired security is here given, in making and using. cartridges on my plan, as well as the diminished recoil, by firing the powder in front. I I

The cup a, (fig. 3,) and cartridge may be one piece, if preferred, instead of as described.

When the charge in the cartridge is exploded, the pressure of the gas within the capfforoibly presses it outward against the internal surface of the cup a, forming a gas-tight joint, and preventing its escape.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The firing-pin it, when made with a piston on itsrea-r end, working in the cylindrical capf, which cap also works in the cylindrical cup at, all as shown and described, and for the purpose specified.

2. The application and arrangement of the prepared fulminate on paper, cloth, or other suitable materials, which may be separately cut with safety, and combined for use in cartridges, substantially as set forth.

3. The mode of separating the two prepared disks or wafers by means of an annular washer. s bstantially as set forth.

BETHEL BURTON. Witnesses:

A. H. SIDELL, DAN. VAN Voonms. 

